Italy/Switzerland: Lago Maggiore

Italy/Switzerland: Lago MaggioreIn the sixties and seventies the Swiss shore was a meeting place for artists and the rich. The money is still there, but got older. Where hip galleries used to be now you encounter expensive pharmacies. But the azure coloured lake, Riviera-like shores and surrounding valleys never lost their attractiveness. The largest part of the lake is in Italy and nothing has changed there. The beauty of its islands like Isola Bella is timeless. Lakeside resort Stresa still dreams of the return of its belle epoque. And subtropical botanical gardens, hidden monasteries and proud castles dot the shores as they did before.

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'Chinese wall?'
In Bellinzona three strongholds nearly close the Ticino valley with their huge walls. Since the Gotthardpass route is following that valley towards Italy, who owned these castles controlled a principal traderoute across the Alps. UNESCO added the complex to their list of World Heritage Sites. Photo Paul Smit.

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'World heritage site.'
The three strongholds of Bellinzona gard the Ticino valley. Since the Gotthardpass route followed that valley towards Italy, who owned these castles controlled a principal traderoute across the Alps. UNESCO added the complex to their list of World Heritage Sites. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Authentic village.'
Corippo in Valle Verzasca is seen as one of the most authentic villages of Ticino and put under protection. The houses were built close around the church since arable land was scarce. Photo Paul Smit

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'Not a Roman bridge.'
The famous 'Roman Bridge' near Lavertezzo in Valle Verzasca actually dates from the Middle Ages. For its own good it attracts too manytourists and people who like to sunbath and swim in the Verzasca below it. Photo Paul Smit.

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'River Verzasca.'
People enjoying the water and the sun near Lavertezzo in Valle Verzasca. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Maggia beach.'
Waterside recreation in Vallemaggia, near Ponte Brolla. Close to Locarno, this is a favorite weekend riverside spot for the local Swiss. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Ascona.'
At the end of the sixties Ascona was for Switzerland what St. Tropez was for France. The creative of the world attracted the wealthy and nowhere in the world you saw more Lamborghinis and Rolls Royces. The money is still there, but got older. Where hip galleries used to be now you encounter expensive pharmacies. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Living statue.'
Being timid at first, seeing the motionless statue at the boulevard of Ascona, the girl gained courage and asked for its hand. Although only coming into motion for money it couldn't resist her charm, bowed down and took her hand. Of sheer joy she then made a pirouette. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Brissago Island.'
The Lago Maggiore is famous for its exotic islands. The Swiss part has two: the Isole Brissago. The smallest is untouched, the larger (photo) transformed into a botanical garden. Happy flowering oleander proves frost is absent here, just like on the Mediterranean coast. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Hibiscus, Brissago Island.'
Hibiscuses are part of the exotic vegetation on the Brissago Islands in the Swiss part of the Lago Maggiore. The largest island, now a botanical garden, was designed by a beautiful barones, who not only loved flowers but even more money and male intellectuals. Bankrupt finally she had to sell her paradise to Max Emden. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Cannero-Riviera.'
At this spot the shore of Lago Maggiore so much resembles the French Riviera that in the end it was called after it. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Goats with a view.'
While in high season tourists are trapped in the traffic on the road circling Lago Maggiore, a few hundred meters up you'll find perfect quietness. Take a hike and share the marvellous panoramas with the goats. The Alto Verbano offers the best slopes for such walks. Photo taken near Piancavallo by Paul Smit.

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'Garden of Villa Taranto.'
Not only on the islands, on the shores of Lago Maggiore you encounter gardens as well. The one of Villa Taranto, situated on a peninsula between Intra and Pallanza, was designed by a Scottish officer. Its flower beds stand in close order. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Chinese wall?'
In Bellinzona three strongholds nearly close the Ticino valley with their huge walls. Since the Gotthardpass route is following that valley towards Italy, who owned these castles controlled a principal traderoute across the Alps. UNESCO added the complex to their list of World Heritage Sites. Photo Paul Smit

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'Isolated but proud.'
Indemini, the country's most isolated village, is proud to be part of Switzerland. Situated in a valley where all other villages are Italian, a winding pass keeps it connected to the Motherland. Proud too the villagers are about their frequent 'postbus' connection (arriving from the Lago Maggiore) and their postoffice, shop and two restaurants. Instead of dying out the village now is actually being renovated and its population growing. Photo Paul Smit

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'Not a Roman bridge.'
The famous 'Roman Bridge' near Lavertezzo in Valle Verzasca actually dates from the Middle Ages. For its own good it attracts too manytourists and people who like to sunbath and swim in the Verzasca below it. Photo Paul Smit.

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'River Verzasca.'
People enjoying the water and the sun near Lavertezzo in Valle Verzasca. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Maggia beach.'
Waterside recreation in Vallemaggia, near Ponte Brolla. Close to Locarno, this is a favorite weekend riverside spot for the local Swiss. Photo Paul Smit.

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'River Maggia.'
The sculpted gneiss along river Maggia , here seen between Ponte Brollo and Aurigeno, is a favorite backdrop for waterside fun. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Rowing on Lago Maggiore.'
Rowers on the quiet waters of the Lago Maggiore in front of Vira. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Madonna del Sasso.'
Pilgrimage church Madonna del Sasso is the symbol of Locarno. In the evening, when the floodlights switch on and a string of lights embraces the Lago Maggiore, the spot has lost nothing of its original charm. A historical cable train brings you up. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Painting Ascona.'
A painter trying to catch the mood of the boulevard along the Lago Maggiore at Ascona. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Pool of a 'Lebenserotiker', Brissago Island.'
The larger of the two Brissago Islands was until 1949 in the hands of the Max Emden, owner of a German chain of department stores. When 60 he decided to become a 'Lebenserotiker' as a way of retirement. The female beauties, gamboling about naked on his island, caused a stir regularly. His favorite passtime was sitting in his rocking chair at this pool, throwing coins in the water and looking at the ladies diving after them. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Hibiscus, Brissago Island.'
Hibiscuses are part of the exotic vegetation on the Brissago Islands in the Swiss part of the Lago Maggiore. The largest island, now a botanical garden, was designed by a beautiful barones, who not only loved flowers but even more money and male intellectuals. Bankrupt finally she had to sell her paradise to Max Emden. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Cannobio.'
An angler has just returned in the little port of Cannobio from a tour on the Lago Maggiore. It's the hour the tourists are looking for a place to eat. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Old port.'
The old port of Cannero-Riviera, that part of the Lago Maggiore shore where it resembles most the French Riviera. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Stones with a view.'
While in high season tourists are trapped in the traffic on the road circling Lago Maggiore, a few hundred meters up you'll find perfect quietness. The Alto Verbano, here near Piancavallo, offers the best slopes for a hike. Photo Paul Smit.

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'Hibiscus at Villa Taranto.'
Not only on the islands, on the shores of Lago Maggiore you encounter gardens as well. The one of Villa Taranto, situated on a peninsula between Intra and Pallanza, was designed by a Scottish officer. He loved brash colours, like the violent purple of this hibiscus (probably Hibiscus moscheutos 'Fireball'). Photo Paul Smit.

The famous 'Roman Bridge' near Lavertezzo in Valle Verzasca actually dates from the Middle Ages. For its own good it attracts too manytourists and people who like to sunbath and swim in the Verzasca below it. Photo Paul Smit.